The hotel boom shows no sign of letting up in the Dominican Republic as nearly 2,000 rooms will be added to the island’s room count beginning in late 2007. Mexico-based Palace Resorts will debut its 1,743-room, all-inclusive Moon Palace Casino, Golf & Spa Resort in Punta Cana in two phases beginning late next year.

A 7-flight hotel, with 140 rooms and 20 suites, the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Santo Domingo will be built in the near future on the main Abraham Lincoln throughway. Its owners announced that the project will set back $1 million and that it is expected to be ready some 14 months from now, before the summer in 2008.

Grenada is going after the business travel market with the grand opening of the 24-room South City Plaza Hotel in St. George’s, the island’s first business hotel to open since Hurricane Ivan pounded the island nation mercilessly back in 2004. Facilities include a convention center large enough to seat some 300 people, Internet access throughout, onsite banking facilities, a restaurant and a supermarket.

Hilton Hotels Corporation opened its first mid market hotel in Italy, the Hilton Garden Inn Florence Novoli, following the unveiling of the brand in Germany in September. The Florence opening is the second peg in the company’s strategy to expand its presence in Europe by developing new brands, including the Hilton Garden Inn the mid-priced brand, that are part of the Hilton Family of Hotels with locations throughout North America.

Coral Hotels & Resorts and Hilton Hotels Corporation have announced the joint decision to dissolve their agreement to develop the Coral by Hilton brand. The decision, reached by mutual agreement, has been in effect since October 31. “This de-branding stems from a mutually agreed and amicable decision,” states Simon Suarez, executive vice president of Coral Hotels & Resorts. “The superior infrastructure and unique characteristics of Coral Hotels & Resorts guarantee seamless branding without starting from zero. Under the new structure, guests will continue to enjoy four exciting all-inclusive resorts with a wide variety of activities and accommodations to please any discerning traveler.”

Nassau’s Compass Point has joined the Island Outpost collection of Caribbean properties and is set to reopen on December 1, following an extensive renovation. As many as 18 boutique-style waterfront huts are comprised of two-story cottages and single cabanas painted purple, orange, yellow and fuchsia.